Purpose of the Role
Restoraction is establishing a dedicated Strip-Out Team to support our growing fire and flood restoration operation.
The Strip-Out Technician will attend residential and commercial properties affected by water, fire and other insured damage and carry out controlled strip-out works to enable drying, cleaning and restoration to take place.
This is not a demolition role.
A key part of the position is understanding the difference between materials that need to be disposed of and fixtures, fittings and components that need to be carefully removed, documented, protected and retained for potential reinstatement.
The successful person must combine practical building skills with care, judgement, initiative and the ability to follow technical instructions.
Initially, the extent of strip-out will normally be determined by the Restoration Technician or site management. However, Strip-Out Technicians are expected to use their own judgement, identify problems and contribute to decisions rather than simply wait for instructions.
As experience develops, greater technical knowledge, responsibility and decision-making will be encouraged.
Key Responsibilities
The role may include:
· Controlled strip-out of fire and water-damaged properties.
· Removal of carpets, laminate, vinyl and other floor coverings.
· Removal of skirting boards and architraves.
· Removal of plasterboard and affected wall finishes.
· Removal of ceilings and insulation where authorised.
Lifting floorboards and chipboard flooring where required.
· Removal of boxing and other coverings to expose affected areas.
· Careful dismantling of kitchen units, worktops and associated components.
· Removal of bathroom fittings and sanitaryware where appropriately authorised and isolated.
· Removal of doors, frames, fixtures and fittings.
· Removal of damaged building materials and components.
· Careful dismantling of items intended for retention or reinstatement.
· Photographing, labelling and documenting retained items and components.
· Listing and documenting contents where required.
· Moving contents and belongings from affected properties.
· Loading and transporting belongings for storage.
· Loading, segregating and assisting with disposal of waste.
· Assisting with temporary protection and making-safe works within the individual’s competence.
· Using hand and power tools safely and appropriately.
· Protecting unaffected areas of properties while work is undertaken.
· Maintaining a clean, organised and safe working environment.
· Taking clear photographs before, during and following works.
· Recording works completed accurately.
· Working alongside Restoration Technicians and other trades where required.
· Assisting other areas of the restoration operation when required.
Working Carefully
Avoiding unnecessary secondary damage is a fundamental requirement of this position.
Strip-Out Technicians must understand that they are working in customers’ homes and businesses, often around valuable fixtures, fittings and belongings.
Speed is important, but never at the expense of care.
Items intended for reinstatement must be dismantled carefully, documented appropriately and handled in a way that maximises the likelihood of successful reinstatement.
Unnecessary damage caused through carelessness, rushing or poor working practices is unacceptable.
Initiative & Decision-Making
We are looking for people who can think practically and solve problems.
The successful person will be expected to:
Understand the objective of the work rather than simply follow individual instructions.
· Look ahead and identify what needs doing next.
· Find practical solutions to problems.
· Communicate potential issues before they become bigger problems.
· Make sensible decisions within their level of competence.
· Ask for guidance where a decision is outside their knowledge or authority.
· Develop their technical judgement as their experience increases.
We do not expect employees to attempt work they are not competent or authorised to undertake.
Good initiative includes knowing when to stop and escalate.
Restrictions & Authorisation
Technicians must not undertake work outside their competence or authorisation.
This includes, where applicable:
· Electrical isolation or specialist electrical works.
· Gas works.
· Plumbing works requiring appropriate competence.
· Structural alterations.
· Work involving suspected asbestos-containing materials.
· Removal of components outside the agreed scope.
· Any activity requiring a specific qualification or authorisation that the employee does not hold.
Previous plumbing or electrical experience/qualifications would be highly advantageous and may allow the employee’s scope of work to develop subject to appropriate competence and authorisation.
Flexibility
Although this is primarily a Strip-Out Technician position, Restoraction operates within a varied disaster restoration environment.
Employees are expected to work as part of the wider team and assist with other reasonable activities when required.
This could include:
· Contents removal.
· Packing and listing.
Waste removal.
· Moving items into or out of storage.
· Hard contents cleaning.
· Supporting Restoration Technicians.
· General site preparation and clearance.
An attitude of “that’s not my job” is incompatible with this position.
Customer Conduct
Technicians will regularly work in occupied residential properties and interact with policyholders.
Customers may have recently experienced a fire, flood or other significant incident.
Employees must therefore:
· Be polite and professional.
· Communicate appropriately.
· Respect customers, their property and belongings.
· Avoid inappropriate language or behaviour.
· Maintain a professional appearance.
· Recognise that they are representing Restoraction and its insurer clients.
The role does not require the Strip-Out Technician to manage the customer’s claim or provide technical advice outside their responsibility. Restoration Technicians and management will normally lead these conversations.
Experience – Essential
Applicants must have previous practical experience within one or more relevant areas, which could include:
· Strip-out / soft-strip.
· Property maintenance.
· General building.
· Carpentry or joinery.
· Kitchen fitting.
· Bathroom fitting.
· Plumbing.
· Electrical work.
· Multi-trade work.
· Insurance repair/reinstatement.
· Demolition with appropriate transferable skills.
· Similar hands-on construction work.
We are willing to train someone in restoration.
We are not currently looking to teach someone from scratch how to use tools or work practically within buildings.
Essential Requirements
Candidates must:
· Have relevant hands-on building/construction experience.
· Hold a full UK driving licence.
· Have no more than six points on their driving licence.
· Be physically capable of undertaking manual work.
· Be comfortable using hand and power tools.
· Be willing to travel throughout the operational area.
· Be flexible regarding working hours.
· Be willing to undertake overtime.
· Be able to communicate professionally with customers and colleagues.
· Demonstrate reliability and a strong work ethic.
· Be able to work effectively within a two-person team.
· Be willing to learn and develop.
Desirable – Not Essential
Particular interest should be given to candidates with:
· Plumbing experience or qualifications.
· Electrical experience or qualifications.
· Carpentry/joinery experience.
· Kitchen fitting experience.
· Multi-trade experience.
· Previous insurance repair experience.
· Previous fire/flood restoration experience.
· Previous controlled strip-out experience.
· Experience carefully dismantling components for reuse.
· Relevant health & safety qualifications.
Existing restoration qualifications are not required.
Personal Characteristics
We are specifically looking for someone who is:
· Reliable.
· Hardworking.
· Practical.
· Positive.
· Solution-focused.
· Careful.
· Organised.
· Able to use initiative.
· Willing to learn.
· Comfortable taking responsibility.
· Proud of the quality of their work.
· Able to work without constant supervision.
· A good team member.
· Professional around customers.
We are not looking for someone who:
· Needs constantly telling what to do next.
· Has a negative approach to problems.
· Regularly finds reasons why something cannot be done rather than solutions.
· Is careless with customers’ property.
· Considers clearing up, loading waste or helping another team member beneath them.
· Has a “that’s not my job” attitude.
· Cannot work constructively as part of a team.
Working Hours & Travel
The normal working expectation is:
8:00am–4:00pm on site, plus travel.
Travel will typically be approximately 30–60 minutes, although jobs may be further away.
The normal operational area includes:
GL, BS, BA, SN, NP, WR and HR postcodes, typically no more than approximately 1.5 hours from base
Travel exceeding the normal 30-minute allowance will be paid in accordance with company arrangements.
Initially, employees will normally start and finish from the Nailsworth unit, although this may evolve as the team develops.
Flexibility is an important requirement. There will be occasions where completing a job properly means working beyond the normal finish time.
Overtime & Weekend Working
Overtime is regularly available and flexibility to undertake reasonable overtime is expected.
Employees will normally be expected to work approximately one weekend day per month as overtime, with opportunities for additional overtime.
Once appropriately trained, employees may also participate in emergency/out-of-hours cover.
Overtime is currently paid at the standard hourly rate.
Vehicle, Equipment & PPE
The two-person Strip-Out Team will be provided with a company vehicle for business use.
Restoraction will provide the tools, equipment, PPE and uniform required for the role.
Training & Career Development
This position is intended to offer considerably more than a strip-out job.
Initial health & safety and role-specific training will be provided.
Further training and development will be available according to performance, capability and ambition.
Potential development areas include:
· Fire and flood restoration.
· Water damage restoration.
· Structural drying.
· Moisture investigation and monitoring.
· Fire and smoke damage.
· Contents restoration.
· Advanced restoration techniques.
· Health & safety.
· Specialist access/equipment qualifications.
· Team leadership and management.
A potential career route is:
Strip-Out Technician → Senior/Lead Strip-Out Technician → Restoration Technician → Senior Restoration Technician → Specialist/Management Opportunities
There is no fixed ceiling on where an ambitious and capable employee can progress.
Restoraction is growing rapidly, and we want people who want to grow with it.
Package
· £14.00 per hour.
· Guaranteed 40 hours per week.
· Permanent employment.
· Equivalent basic earnings of £29,120 per annum before overtime.
· Regular overtime opportunities.
· 28 days’ holiday including bank holidays.
· Workplace pension.
· Company vehicle for business use.
· Company-provided tools and equipment.
· Company-provided PPE and uniform.
· Initial training provided.
· Significant ongoing development opportunities.
Recruitment Process
Because of the responsibility involved in working within customers’ properties, Restoraction will recruit selectively.
The recruitment process may include:
1. Application/CV screening.
2. Initial telephone screening.
3. Face-to-face interview.
4. Practical assessment/trial.
5. Final review and employment offer.
Meeting the basic experience requirements does not guarantee appointment.
We are looking for people with the right combination of experience, practical ability, judgement, attitude and long-term potential.
Pay: £14.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Nailsworth, Gloucestershire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Construction or building trades: 1 year (preferred)
- Demolition or soft-strip: 1 year (preferred)
- Fire and flood restoration / disaster recovery: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Full UK Driving Licence (required)
Location:
- Nailsworth, Gloucestershire (preferred)
Work Location: In person
